Ray Wise | |
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![]() Wise in 2011 | |
Born | Raymond Herbert Wise (1947-08-29)August 29, 1947 (age 77)[1] Akron, Ohio, U.S. |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1969–present |
Spouses | |
Children | 2 |
Raymond Herbert Wise (born August 29, 1947)[1] is an American actor best known for his role asLeland Palmer inTwin Peaks (1990–1991,2017) and its prequel filmTwin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992). He has appeared in films such asSwamp Thing (1982),The Journey of Natty Gann (1985),RoboCop (1987),Bob Roberts (1992),Jeepers Creepers 2 (2003),Good Night, and Good Luck (2005),X-Men: First Class (2011) andGod's Not Dead 2 (2016).
Wise's other television roles include Vice PresidentHal Gardner in24 (2006), The Devil inReaper (2007–2009), Ian Ward inThe Young and the Restless (2014–2016, 2024–2025) and Marvin inFresh Off the Boat (2015–2020). He is also known for acting in projects produced by thecomedy duoTim & Eric, most notably his guest-starring role as Grill Vogel inTim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2008).
Wise was born inAkron,Ohio, on August 29, 1947,[1] graduated fromGarfield High School in 1965 and attendedKent State University inKent, Ohio.[1] He is ofRomanian descent on his maternal side.[2] He grew up in a religious family; in the past he went to a RomanianBaptist church in Akron and later moved to aMethodist church.[3]
In the late 1960s and 70s, Wise played attorney Jamie Rollins in the soap operaLove of Life for seven years and nearly 950 episodes.[4] In 1987, Wise played Tom Gunther, Catherine Chandler's boyfriend, in the pilot episode of the TV seriesBeauty and the Beast. Wise is best known for his role asLaura Palmer's father Leland inTwin Peaks. In addition toTwin Peaks, Wise has played several roles inscience fiction. He made an appearance as Liko in theStar Trek: The Next Generation episode "Who Watches the Watchers", later playingArturis in theStar Trek: Voyager episode "Hope and Fear".
He appeared in the Season 7 episode "The Flame" ofDiagnosis: Murder. He was featured in three episodes ofTim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! as Grill Vogel, the presenter of a fictitious instructional video series called "Business Hugs".
In 1995, Wise was reunited withTwin Peaks castmateSherilyn Fenn in the NBC telemovieLiz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story. He also starred as the Devil on the TV seriesReaper. Wise has appeared on a number of political-themed television series and films. He briefly appeared onThe West Wing as California governor Gabriel "Gabe" Tillman, and playedVice PresidentHal Gardner on24 in 2006. In August 2006, Wise made a guest appearance in the seriesBones as the primary suspect of the first episode of the second season ("The Titan on the Tracks"), and in thepilot episode ofBurn Notice. In Season 8, episode 13 ofLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit (2007), Wise guest starred as the head of a company testing pesticides on little children. Wise has also guest starred in two episodes ofThe Closer, as lawyer Tom Blanchard. He starred inCharmed as the upper level demon Ludlow, who runs a school for the Source Of All Evil in the episode "Lost and Bound". He had a small role in one episode of the sixth season ofDawson's Creek, playing Roger Stepateck. Wise starred in the 2009 SyFy original movieInfestation. He played the lead as Avery in a psychological thriller,Iodine, in 2009. He was a guest star onPsych and in 2010, in a special episode ofPsych titled "Dual Spires", he joined his fellowTwin Peaks alumniDana Ashbrook,Robyn Lively,Lenny Von Dohlen,Sheryl Lee,Catherine E. Coulson, andSherilyn Fenn in a spoof ofTwin Peaks.
Wise appeared in several episodes ofMad Men asKen Cosgrove's father-in-law Ed Baxter, the CEO ofCorning, Inc. He appeared in "Chinese Wall" (Season 4, Episode 11), "At the Codfish Ball" (Season 5, Episode 7), "Commissions and Fees" (Season 5, Episode 12), "To Have and to Hold" (Season 6, Episode 4) and "Severance" (Season 7, Episode 8).
In 2010, Wise guest-starred as fictitious sports agent Bobby Fox alongside a special guest appearance from real life ex-Yankees managerJoe Torre on the TV seriesCastle, in the Season 2 episode "Suicide Squeeze". He also guest starred onDollhouse as Howard, a higher-up in the Dollhouse organization.[5] He stars inKyle Rankin's post-apocalyptic horror thriller filmNuclear Family.[6] Wise was announced the lead of the Mike Mendez thriller filmOv3rk!ll.[7]
Wise appeared in Season 4 ofChuck and in the FX television showWilfred as a popular TV personality. He was cast in the part ofRobin Scherbatsky's father onHow I Met Your Mother in December 2010 (afterEric Braeden declined to reprise his role in acameo appearance), and ultimately appeared in 6 episodes of the series in total. Ray made a cameo appearance as a modeling agent in episode four of season 2 ofWorkaholics.
Wise made an appearance in 2012 in the TV seriesRizzoli & Isles (Season 3, Episode 7, "Crazy for You") in drag as a cross-dressing judge. That same year, Ray played John Nelson, A disturbed ex-mortician obsessed with trying to help his wife Linda in theCriminal MindsSeason 8 episode "God Complex".
Wise prominently appeared in the music video "Wishes" for the groupBeach House. It was directed byEric Wareheim and features Wise performing in a surreal football halftime show.
Wise appeared asAndy Rooney parody Skip Reming onNewsreaders. In January 2014, he was hired to play the character of Ian Ward on the long running soapThe Young and the Restless. He returned toY&R in September 2015. He played the mayor in the first season ofDeadbeat. Since 2014, he has appeared in multiple series on ABC. He had a recurring role as Marvin in the first two seasons ofFresh Off the Boat before being promoted to series regular for seasons three through six. He also appeared in the first two seasons ofAgent Carter as comic book characterHugh Jones.
In 2016, Wise appeared in the Netflix seriesGilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. He portrayed Jack Smith, an old friend of Richard Gilmore, who becomes the boyfriend or companion of widow Emily Gilmore.
In 2017, he appeared as a guest in the TV seriesFargo, as Paul Marrane, a kitten-handler and metaphysical punisher, in the episodes "The Law of Non-Contradiction" and "Who Rules the Land of Denial?"
He played the character of Dr. Alec Holland in the 1982 filmSwamp Thing, directed byWes Craven and based upon the comic book series of the same name. Dr. Holland is the man who becomes the titular character after his lab is destroyed and he is left for dead. The actual Swamp Thing character was played byDick Durock.
In 1985, Wise was cast as Sol Gann, father to Natty Gann in the Disney filmThe Journey of Natty Gann, directed byJeremy Paul Kagan, and then appeared as henchman Leon C. Nash inRoboCop (1987). He also had roles inSeason of Fear (1989),The Rift (1990),Bob Roberts (1992),Grey Knight (1993) andRising Sun (1993).
He then played the roles of entrepreneur/millionaire Dalton Voss inThe Chase (1994), Dr. Stripler inPowder (1995), Sheriff Blaidek inEvasive Action (1998), and Bart's father Harrison inThe Battle of Shaker Heights (2003). The same year he played Jack Taggart in the horror filmJeepers Creepers 2, and portrayed father and husband Frank Harrington in the horror filmDead End.
In 2005, he appeared as newscaster and commentatorDon Hollenbeck inGood Night, and Good Luck, directed byGeorge Clooney. In 2007 he appeared inThe Flock as Robert Still. In 2008 he had a role in the horror remakeOne Missed Call. In the year 2011, Wise played the role ofUnited States Secretary of State inX-Men: First Class. He appeared inTim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie as Dr. Doone Struts, the leader of the Shrim Healing Center. He appeared inRevelation Road: The Beginning of the End as Franks. He played Major Braxton Tanner in the movieBig Ass Spider! (2013). He was inBrother's Keeper (2013) and was inSuburban Gothic (2014).
In 2014 Wise appeared in the documentary horror filmDigging Up the Marrow under the direction ofAdam Green.[8] In 2016, Wise starred as attorney Peter Kane in the filmGod's Not Dead 2, who represents the ACLU in its fight to have the protagonist, Grace Wesley (Melissa Joan Hart), convicted of proselytizing in a public school.[9]
As a voice actor, Wise playedPerry White in the movieSuperman: Doomsday. He also playsCommissioner Gordon in theanimated film adaptation ofThe Killing Joke.[10]
He is also known for portraying Michael Dugan,President of the United States, in the full-motion video cutscenes for the computer real-time strategy gameCommand & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and its expansion,Yuri's Revenge.
In 2014, Wise starred in an original Chipotle web series titledFarmed and Dangerous; he played Buck Marshall in thesatiricalblack comedy-typesituation comedy. In 2018, Wise made a guest appearance in the second volume of Hyper RPG's horror anthology RPG,10 Candles, explaining to the party the mysteries of the town of Kolob. He reprised that role in 2019 for the opening credits of 'Kollok 1991', another RPG series by Hyper RPG.
Wise has been married to film producer Kass McClaskey since 1978. They have two children together: a son, Gannon McClaskey Wise, born in 1985, who is an actor and writer; and a daughter, Kyna Wise, born in 1987, who is also an actress and a singer. From 1974 until 1977, Wise had been married to actress Juliet Burr.[citation needed]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1969 | Dare the Devil | David Keller | |
1982 | Swamp Thing | Dr. Alec Holland | |
Cat People | Soap Opera Man | ||
1985 | The Journey of Natty Gann | Sol Gann | |
1987 | RoboCop | Leon Nash | |
1989 | Season of Fear | Fred Drummond | |
Race for Glory | Jack Davis | ||
1990 | The Rift | Robbins | |
1992 | Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me | Leland Palmer | |
Bob Roberts | Chet MacGregor | ||
1993 | Ghost Brigade | Col. George Thalman | Direct-to-video |
Rising Sun | Senator John Morton | ||
1994 | The Chase | Dalton Voss | |
Body Shot | Dwight Frye | ||
The Crew | Charles Pierce | ||
1995 | Powder | Dr. Aaron Stripler | |
1998 | Evasive Action | Sheriff Wes Blaidek | |
1999 | Pennyweight | Mr. Pennyweight | Short film |
2000 | Closing the Deal | Ford Williams | |
2001 | Almost Salinas | Jack Tynan | |
Two Can Play That Game | Bill Parker | ||
2002 | Landspeed | Brian Sanger | |
Scream at the Sound of the Beep | Brother Jake | ||
2003 | Dead End | Frank Harrington | |
Jeepers Creepers 2 | Jack Taggart Sr. | ||
The Battle of Shaker Heights | Harrison | ||
2005 | Sharkskin 6 | Sam | |
The Rain Makers | Harris | ||
Good Night, and Good Luck | Don Hollenbeck | Nominated —Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | |
Cyxork 7 | Kommander 88 | ||
2006 | The Substance of Things Hoped For | Dr. Lessing | |
Peaceful Warrior | Doctor Hayden | ||
2007 | The Election | Peter | Short film |
The Flock | Bobby Stiles | ||
Hellholes | Professor Klume | Short film | |
Superman: Doomsday | Perry White | Voice Direct-to-DVD | |
2008 | Reservations | Mitch | |
One Missed Call | Ted Summers | ||
AM1200 | Harry Jones | Short film | |
AmericanEast | Agent Stevens | ||
2009 | Pandemic | General Matthews | |
Infestation | Ethan | ||
Stuntmen | Jack Strongbow | ||
Iodine | Avery | ||
Love at First Hiccup | Roger | ||
2010 | Darnell Dawkins: Mouth Guitar Legend | Wade Dawkins | |
2011 | Black Velvet | Black Velvet | |
X-Men: First Class | Secretary of State | ||
Chillerama | Dr. Weems | Segment: "Wadzilla" | |
Rosewood Lane | Det. Danny Briggs | ||
2012 | Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie | Dr. Doone Struts | |
Excision | Principal Campbell | ||
The Aggression Scale | Bellavance | ||
Crazy Eyes | Zach's Father | ||
FDR: American Badass! | Douglas MacArthur | ||
The Butterfly Room | Nick | ||
Atlas Shrugged: Part II | Head of State Thompson | ||
Brother White | Pastor Johnny Kingman | ||
Posey | Dr. Shap | Short film | |
2013 | Wrong Cops | Captain Andy | |
Inventing Adam | J.B. | ||
Big Ass Spider! | Major Braxton C. Tanner | ||
Revelation Road: Beginning of the End | Frank | ||
Lionhead | Jimmy | ||
Revelation Road 2: The Sea of Glass and Fire | Frank | ||
Out West | Phillip Alcott | ||
Brother's Keeper | Herbert Leemaster | ||
No God, No Master | A. Mitchell Palmer | ||
2014 | Away from Here | Paul | |
Suburban Gothic | Donald | ||
Land of Leopold | Deece Warren | ||
Digging Up the Marrow | William Dekker | ||
Dead Still | Wenton Davis | ||
Guardian Angel | Attorney Kaufman | ||
Reflections | Grandpa | Short film | |
2015 | Jurassic City | Warden Lewis | |
The Lazarus Effect | Mr. Wallace | ||
Night of the Living Deb | Frank Waverly | ||
Taking Flight | Nono | Voice Short film | |
The Breakup Girl | Bob Baker | ||
The Specialist | The Specialist | Short film | |
Unnatural | Victor Clobirch | ||
2016 | Halloweed | Judge Pilmington | |
God's Not Dead 2 | Peter Kane | ||
The Bronx Bull | Father Joseph | ||
Batman: The Killing Joke | Commissioner Gordon | Voice | |
Star Trek: Captain Pike | Admiral Joshua Pike | ||
2017 | Shattered | Forest Burnett | |
2019 | Tone-Deaf | Michael | |
Chain of Death | Michael | ||
Unholy 'Mole | The Devil | Short film | |
To Your Last Death | Cyrus DeKalb | Voice | |
Big Fan Begins | Ticket Man | Short film | |
2020 | Beast Mode | Trammel Steadfast | |
2021 | King Knight | Merlin | |
2023 | Poolman | Van Patterson | |
The Blue Rose | Mr. Vallens | ||
2024 | God's Not Dead: In God We Trust | Pete Kane | |
The Wolf in the Well | Roland Carmel | Short film |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1970–1976 | Love of Life | Jamie Rawlins #2 | |
1978 | Charlie's Angels | Evan Wilcox | Episode: "Winning Is for Losers" |
Barnaby Jones | Malcolm Elliot | Episode: "Stages of Fear" | |
Tartuffe | Damis | Television film | |
1981 | Lou Grant | Bart Franklin | Episode: "Strike" |
Madame X | Bellman | Uncredited Television film | |
1982 | Dallas | Blair Sullivan | 8 episodes |
1982–1983 | Days of Our Lives | Hal Rummley | |
1983 | The Mississippi | Cole | Episode: "Joey" |
1984 | T. J. Hooker | Harrison Mackenzie | Episode: "Hot Property" |
Blue Thunder | J.D. Kraft | Episode: "Payload" | |
Emerald Point N.A.S. | Travis | 2 episodes | |
Hart to Hart | Dick Braddon | Episode: "Larsen's Last Jump" | |
Trapper John, M.D. | Dr. Henry Speiner | Episode: "Aunt Mildred Is Watching" | |
Riptide | Les Carter | Episode: "Beat the Box" | |
Remington Steele | Schwimmer | Episode: "A Pocketful of Steele" | |
1985 | The A-Team | Phillip Chadway | Episode: "Lease with an Option to Die" |
1986 | Scarecrow and Mrs. King | Frank Duran | Episode: "The Pharaoh's Engineer" |
Airwolf | Victor Resnick | Episode: "Hawke's Run" | |
Stingray | Dr. John Whitaker | Episode: "Ether" | |
The Colbys | Spiro Koralis | 5 episodes | |
Hunter | Alex Parker | Episode: "Crime of Passion" | |
Condor | Christopher Proctor | Television film | |
1987 | Beauty and the Beast | Tom | Episode: "Once Upon a Time" |
Private Eye | Senator McNeill | Episode: "Blue Movie" | |
1988 | Knots Landing | The Dealer | 5 episodes |
L.A. Law | Walter Platt | 2 episodes | |
The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story | Phil Maresca | Television film | |
1989 | Moonlighting | Murderer | Episode: "Eine Kleine Nacht Murder" |
Star Trek: The Next Generation | Liko | Episode: "Who Watches the Watchers" | |
Jake and the Fatman | Harry McGinn | Episode: "Dancing in the Dark" | |
1990–1991 | Twin Peaks | Leland Palmer | 18 episodes |
1992 | Swamp Thing | Guthrie | Episode: "Never Alone" |
1993 | The Secrets of Lake Success | Henry Fleming | 3 episodes |
1993–1994 | Second Chances | Judge Jim Stinson | 6 episodes |
1994 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Garrett Carlson | Episode: "Stolen Lullaby" |
The Larry Sanders Show | Lloyd Simon | Episode: "You're Having My Baby" | |
1995 | Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story | Mike Todd | Television film |
Dream On | Maddox March | Episode: "Significant Author" | |
Courthouse | Congressman Laderman | Episode: "One Flew Over the Courthouse" | |
1996–1997 | Savannah | Edward Burton | 34 episodes |
1998 | The Wonderful World of Disney | Randolph Pratt | Episode: "The Garbage Picking Field Goal Kicking Philadelphia Phenomenon" |
Star Trek: Voyager | Arturis | Episode: "Hope and Fear" | |
1997–1998 | Sleepwalkers | McCaig | 2 episodes |
1998 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Daniel Hunter | 2 episodes |
Vengeance Unlimited | Jack Schiller | Episode: "Cruel and Unusual" | |
Sports Night | Evans | Episode: "Mary Pat Shelby" | |
1999 | Diagnosis: Murder | John Parkinson | Episode: "The Flame" |
2000 | Profiler | James Perrone | Episode: "Quid Pro Quo" |
Popular | Barton | Episode: "What Makes Sammy Run" | |
2000–2001 | Resurrection Blvd. | Jack Mornay | 12 episodes |
2001 | V.I.P. | Judge Kreiger | Episode: "Bodyguards" |
RoboCop: Prime Directives | Leon C. Nash (archive footage, uncredited) | Episode: "Resurrection" | |
Judging Amy | Atty. Rhodes | Episode: "The Last Word" | |
Dead Last | Robert Cahill | Episode: "Jane's Exit" | |
2002 | Charmed | Ludlow | Episode: "Lost and Bound" |
She Spies | Ambassador Blaine | Episode: "Daddy's Girl" | |
Presidio Med | Episode: "Milagros" | ||
2003 | Dawson's Creek | Roger Stepavich | Episode: "All the Right Moves" |
2004 | JAG | Congressman Marvin Bolton | Episode: "Retrial" |
2005 | The West Wing | Governor Tillman D-CA | Episode: "La Palabra" |
2006 | 24 | Vice PresidentHal Gardner | 6 episodes |
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Ernest Chase | Episode: "Rashomama" | |
The Closer | Tom Blanchard | Episodes: "Out of Focus," "The Other Woman" | |
Bones | Rick Turco | Episode: "The Titan on the Tracks" | |
2007 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Roger Hanley | Episode: "Loophole" |
Shark | Lloyd Holcomb | Episode: "Starlet Fever" | |
Six Degrees | Henry Crane | Episode: "Sedgewick's" | |
Burn Notice | Mr. Pyne | Episode: "Pilot" | |
2007–2009 | Reaper | The Devil | 31 episodes |
2008 | Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! | Grill Vogel | 2 episodes |
2009 | Numb3rs | Mitch Langford | Episode: "Guilt Trip" |
Drop Dead Diva | Frank Dodd | Episode: "What If?" | |
Dollhouse | Howard Lipman | Episode: "The Left Hand" | |
2009–2010 2014 | Psych | Father Peter Westley / Judge Horace Leland | 3 episodes |
2010 | Castle | Bobby Fox | Episode: "Suicide Squeeze" |
Suitemates | Hans Ahnnansoahnn | 2 episodes | |
The Good Guys | Buddy | Episode: "Common Enemies" | |
2010–2015 | Mad Men | Ed Baxter | 5 episodes |
2011 | Hawaii Five-0 | Morris Brown | Episode: "Powa Maka Moana" |
Mr. Sunshine | Macaulay | Episode: "Heather's Sister" | |
Chuck | Riley | 3 episodes | |
Wilfred | Colt St. Cloud | Episode: "Identity" | |
Workaholics | Kyle Walsh | Episode: "Model Kombat" | |
Easy to Assemble | Hendrik | 3 episodes | |
90210 | Dean Thomas | Episode: "It's the Great Masquerade, Naomi Clark" | |
2011–2014 | How I Met Your Mother | Robin Scherbatsky Sr. | 6 episodes |
2012 | Battleground | D-Day / Tak's Father | 2 episodes |
NCIS | Wayne Tobett | Episode: "Secrets" | |
Holliston | Landlord | Episode: "Camera Rental: Part 1" | |
The Mentalist | Dennis Victor | Episode: "Red Rover, Red Rover" | |
Rizzoli & Isles | Judge Eugene Allen | Episode: "Crazy for You" | |
Criminal Minds | John Nelson | Episode: "God Complex" | |
2013 | Body of Proof | Michael Davis | Episode: "Mob Mentality" |
Perception | Martin Sullivan | Episode: "Toxic" | |
Twisted Tales | Mongo the Magnificent | Episode: "Mongo's Magik Mirror" | |
High School USA! | Seymour Barren / Cassandra's Dad | Voices 3 episodes | |
2013–2014 | Kroll Show | Network Executive / Wendy's Father | 3 episodes |
2013–2015 | Newsreaders | Skip Reming | 19 episodes |
2014 | Farmed and Dangerous | Buck Marshall | 4 episodes |
Deadbeat | Mayor Meyer | Episode: "Sixty Feet Under" | |
Hit the Floor | Episode: "Winner Takes All" | ||
2014–2016, 2024–2025 | The Young and the Restless | Ian Ward | 91 episodes |
2015–2016 | Agent Carter | Hugh Jones | 4 episodes |
2015–2020 | Fresh Off the Boat | Marvin | 73 episodes |
2016 | Relationship Status | Grace's Dad | Episode: "The Catch" |
All the Way | Senator Everett Dirksen | Television film | |
Comedy Bang! Bang! | Psychologist / Dr. Frankenstein | 2 episodes | |
Adam Ruins Everything | Netflix Executive | Episode: "Adam Ruins Hollywood" | |
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life | Jack Smith | 3 episodes | |
Hitting The Breaks | Theodore 'Teddy' Montclair | 2 episodes | |
2017 | Fargo | Paul Marrane | 2 episodes |
Idiotsitter | Himself | Episode: "Rush, Rush" | |
Twin Peaks | Leland Palmer | 2 episodes | |
Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories | The Duke | Episode: "The Duke" | |
2017–2018 | Neo Yokio | Old Man | Voice 2 episodes |
2019 | Hot Streets | Plunch Runch | Voice Episode: "The Moon Masters" |
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina | Enoch | Episode: "Chapter Sixteen: Blackwood" | |
2021 | All Rise | Richard Walker | Episode: "Georgia" |
Launchpad | Headmaster Gustafson | Episode: "Dinner Is Served" | |
Physical | Sheila's Father | Episode: "Let's Not and Say We Did" | |
Home Economics | Frank | Episode: "49ers Foam Finger, $7" | |
Psych 3: This Is Gus | Father Peter Westley | Television film |
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2000 | Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 | President Michael Dugan |
2001 | Command & Conquer: Yuri's Revenge | President Michael Dugan |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | 10 Candles | Kolob Council Member | Episode: "The Town: Finale" |
2019 | Kollok 1991 | Video narrator | Intro sequence |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | Batman: The Audio Adventures | Announcer | Podcast |